Specialised and Niche
Animal Planet to premiere Turtle Walker documentary on 19 October
Taira Malaney’s award-winning film follows Satish Bhaskar’s decades-long sea turtle conservation journey
MUMBAI: Some journeys leave footprints in the sand; others leave a lasting mark on conservation. Animal Planet is bringing one such story to Indian television with the premiere of Turtle Walker, a documentary tracing conservationist Satish Bhaskar’s remarkable efforts to protect sea turtles along India’s coastline and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Directed by Taira Malaney and produced by Tiger Baby, Emaho Films and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, the film will premiere exclusively on Animal Planet on 19 October 2026 at 9 pm. It will feature as part of India: Epic Wild Stories, an anthology exploring wildlife and conservation stories from across the country. The documentary marks the first collaboration between Animal Planet and the three production houses.
Beginning in the late 1970s, Turtle Walker follows Bhaskar’s solitary expeditions to document sea turtle nesting sites. Among the locations he explored was Suheli Par, an uninhabited island in Lakshadweep, where he kept in touch with his wife through letters sent in bottles. The film also follows his return to the Andaman Islands after the devastating 2004 tsunami, as he investigated its impact on sea turtles and their nesting beaches.
The documentary combines an intensely personal story with a wider account of marine conservation, highlighting the persistence required to study and protect wildlife in remote locations.
“With India: Epic Wild Stories, we are bringing distinctive documentaries from some of the most celebrated Indian wildlife filmmakers, offering audiences an insight into the natural heritage of our country,” said Sai Abishek, head of factual entertainment, lifestyle and kids – South Asia, Skydance. He described Turtle Walker as a meeting point between a personal journey and the larger cause of conservation.
Zoya Akhtar said Bhaskar’s story deserved to reach a wider audience, while Reema Kagti highlighted how his journey demonstrates the impact one person can make through persistence and a commitment to protecting nature.
The film has already made waves on the international festival circuit. It premiered at DOC NYC in 2024 and has since screened at more than 75 international film festivals, according to Malaney. Its accolades include the Jackson Wild Grand Teton award, the Best Film Award at Academia Film Olomouc, the Best Nature Programme award at the SILBERSALZ Science and Media Awards, and a jury award at the Tasveer Film Festival. It has also received a nomination for the Grierson Awards in the Best Science and Natural History Documentary category.
“After nearly nine years in the making, and screening at 75+ international film festivals, 20+ awards and 100+ community screenings, we cannot wait to bring this film to Animal Planet’s vibrant and varied audiences across India,” Malaney said, adding that she hoped viewers would be inspired by India’s marine biodiversity and the difference one individual can make.
With its Indian television premiere, Turtle Walker brings Bhaskar’s decades-long conservation effort to a wider domestic audience, putting the spotlight on a marine world that often remains out of sight but is vital to the country’s natural heritage.
